PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yong Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Willum Reed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Blankenship
vs
Reed

161 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yong Blankenship!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Willum Reed!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Eliza Hachem and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reed closes the distance and clinches.

Reed jumps guard.
Blankenship postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Reed is trying to keep Blankenship in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blankenship postures up in Reed's guard and throws a big left but Reed blocks it.

Reed is looking for a triangle but Blankenship pushes his legs off easily.
Blankenship might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Blankenship makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Reed not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blankenship lands a couple of digs.

Reed is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Blankenship presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Blankenship wants to break the clinch but can't.

Reed breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reed scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Blankenship is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Reed wants to control but Blankenship is keeping him busy.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Blankenship really is a fat lump.
Reed throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reed controls the position from side control.
Reed working the head with strikes.

Reed decides to stand up, so the ref orders Blankenship to his feet.

Reed moves into range and clinches up with Blankenship.

Reed turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Reed manages to end up in side control.
Blankenship manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reed has hold of Blankenship's hands but Blankenship slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Reed is trying to stand back up but Blankenship is controlling him
Reed tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Blankenship missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Blankenship is looking to take a break and control but Reed is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Reed is trying to stand.
Reed wants to control but Blankenship is keeping busy.
Blankenship tries to pass to full mount but Reed defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Reed trying to control here.
Blankenship throwing shots but Reed is blocking nicely.
Blankenship looks to land a strike but Reed avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Reed is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Reed has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Blankenship has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blankenship wants to break the clinch but can't.
Blankenship is trying to push Reed away but Reed has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willum Reed dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Blankenship moves into range and clinches up with Reed.

Reed drags the fight down to the ground.
Reed wants to sweep here but Blankenship controlling him for the moment.
Reed is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Blankenship tries to roll over but Reed keeps him under control.
Willum Reed has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blankenship tries to kick Reed off but Reed keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reed not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Reed missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reed looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Blankenship wants to improve his position but Reed is controlling well.
Reed throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Reed is keen to just control but Blankenship is a slippery customer.

Reed is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Blankenship is just riding it out for now. Reed eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Reed wants to work for an arm triangle but Blankenship is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Blankenship is looking to improve his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Reed drives through with a takedown into Blankenship's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reed gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Blankenship throws a series of punches but Reed avoids them all with ease.

Reed gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Reed escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Reed closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Blankenship's guard.
Reed slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Reed trying to control but Blankenship is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship looking to hit a scissor sweep but Reed is one step ahead there.

Blankenship has his foot on Reed's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Reed works his way back into a safe position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reed sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Reed sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Blankenship's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willum Reed showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Reed shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Blankenship manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Blankenship keeping full guard, as Reed tries to pass.
Reed forces his way into half guard.
Reed tries to pass the half guard into mount. Blankenship knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Reed is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship is not content to let Reed control the position.
Reed is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Blankenship!

Reed is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Reed gets a clinch.

Reed drags the fight down to the ground.
Reed wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Reed keeping moving, preventing Blankenship from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reed looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Reed pulls Blankenship in to control the position.
Blankenship is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Reed working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blankenship.

Reed has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blankenship can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Reed looking for a guillotine here but Blankenship defends easily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Reed takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reed moves into the clinch.

Reed pulls Blankenship into guard.
Reed looking for a sweep. Not yet Reed, not yet.
Blankenship throws an elbow that misses. Reed uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Blankenship's guard. Nice move by Reed!

Blankenship tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Blankenship working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Reed has passed into half guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship looks like he's trying to stand up.
Reed controlling the action here.
Blankenship manages to get to full guard.
Yong Blankenship has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Willum Reed is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Reed has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reed wants to control from the top but Blankenship keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willum Reed comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Reed has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willum Reed!